TOTP2

Infobox Television
show_name = Top of the Pops 2


caption = "Logo introduced in 2006"
format = Archive chart music
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
developer =
producer = Ric Blaxill (1994-1998)
Rory Sheehan (1998)
Mark Hagen (1999-2008)
executive_producer =
starring =
narrated = Steve Wright (1997-2008)
Johnnie Walker (1994-1997)
theme_music_composer = Tony Gibber (2006-2008)
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
language = English
network = BBC Two
first_aired = 17 September, 1994
last_aired = 30 November, 2008
num_episodes = 487+ (as of 7 October 2006)
list_episodes =
chronology =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/
imdb_id = 0283225
tv_com_id =

"TOTP2 (Top of the Pops 2)" is a British television music show broadcast on BBC Two, showing archive footage from the long-running "Top of the Pops" show, some dating back to January, 1964 when the program first aired on British television.

Original format

The show was originally hosted by BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker until colleague and fellow DJ Steve Wright took over in 1997.

Wright himself never appears in-vision but provides a voice-over commentary and introduction to each piece. In 2003 the BBC started to run a daily version of "TOTP2" in which celebrities chose their favourite archive performances. These celebrities, typically comedians, have included Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer, Phill Jupitus and Jack Dee. There have also been a number of "TOTP2" specials in which a "greatest hits" show dedicated to one musician or band is put together from both archive and new footage. Go Ending on 30 November, 2008

Rest

In 2004, the incoming controller of BBC Two, Roly Keating, announced that the programme was to be "rested". The last showing of "TOTP2" was intended to be the "TOTP2 Christmas Special" shown on Christmas Eve 2005 at 19:30 on BBC Two. But they have started to re-run "TOTP2" on UKTV G2, now Dave since 2004 with edited versions.

Return

On 30 September 2006, "TOTP2" returned to BBC Two. The new show format was similar to the earlier "TOTP2", but also included live/original BBC performances. The first 50-minute special included Nelly Furtado, Jamelia and Razorlight, before it reverted to a 30 minute weekly format at 20:00. [cite news|first=Ben|last=Todd|title=EXCLUSIVE: TOP OF THE POPS BACK ON TV|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17808872%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=exclusive%2d%2dtop%2dof%2dthe%2dpops%2dback%2don%2dtv-name_page.html|publisher=Sunday Mirror|date=24 September, 2006|accessdate=2006-12-24]

It is unusual for a modern BBC programme, in that it is broadcast in the 4:3 aspect ratio. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that it reuses archive material, the vast majority of which is in that format. The first two episodes were in the 16:9 aspect ratio, however, to accommodate new performances.

It now appears that the show will not continue in this form, but will still broadcast occasional specials.

Trivia

The show's researchers unearthed a film of a band with young Rick Wakeman playing keyboards. The band was billed as Yes, although they were actually Strawbs. Wakeman left Strawbs to join Yes in 1971.

References

External links

*bbc.co.uk|id=totp2|title="TOTP2"